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Research on capital structure determinants: a review and future directions

Author

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  • Satish Kumar
  • Sisira Colombage
  • Purnima Rao

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to study the status of studies on capital structure determinants in the past 40 years. This paper highlights the major gaps in the literature on determinants of capital structure and also aims to raise specific questions for future research. Design/methodology/approach - The prominence of research is assessed by studying the year of publication and region, level of economic development, firm size, data collection methods, data analysis techniques and theoretical models of capital structure from the selected papers. The review is based on 167 papers published from 1972 to 2013 in various peer-reviewed journals. The relationship of determinants of capital structure is analyzed with the help of meta-analysis. Findings - Major findings show an increase of interest in research on determinants of capital structure of the firms located in emerging markets. However, it is observed that these regions are still under-examined which provides more scope for research both empirical and survey-based studies. Majority of research studies are conducted on large-sized firms by using secondary data and regression-based models for the analysis, whereas studies on small-sized firms are very meager. As majority of the research papers are written only at the organizational level, the impact of leverage on various industries is yet to be examined. The review highlights the major determinants of capital structure and their relationship with leverage. It also reveals the dominance of pecking order theory in explaining capital structure of firms theoretically as well as statistically. Originality/value - The paper covers a considerable period of time (1972-2013). Among very few review papers on capital structure research, to the best of authors’ knowledge; this is the first review to identify what is missing in the literature on the determinants of capital structure while offering recommendations for future studies. It also synthesize the findings of empirical studies on determinants of capital structure statistically.

Suggested Citation

  • Satish Kumar & Sisira Colombage & Purnima Rao, 2017. "Research on capital structure determinants: a review and future directions," International Journal of Managerial Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 13(2), pages 106-132, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:ijmfpp:ijmf-09-2014-0135
    DOI: 10.1108/IJMF-09-2014-0135
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mohd Faizal Basri & Fitri Shuhaida Shoib & Surianor Kamaralzaman, 2019. "Determinants of Capital Structure: Evidence From Malaysian Food and Beverage Firms," Research in World Economy, Research in World Economy, Sciedu Press, vol. 10(5), pages 45-52, December.
    2. Michael L. McIntyre, 2022. "Capital structure in an option-theoretic setting," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 2(8), pages 1-24, August.
    3. Hossain, Mohammed Sawkat, 2021. "A revisit of capital structure puzzle: Global evidence and analysis," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 657-678.
    4. Long, Huaigang & Chiah, Mardy & Zaremba, Adam & Umar, Zaghum, 2024. "Changes in shares outstanding and country stock returns around the world," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    5. Tzu-Chun Sheng & Alvin Chang & Shu-Hui Lan & Shih-Cheng Li, 2020. "Analysis of the Dividend Policy Decision-Making Mechanism of Chinese and Taiwanese Lithium Battery Industries," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-16, October.
    6. Raja Zekri Ben Hamouda & Nessrine Hamzaoui & Faouzi Jilani, 2023. "Capital Structure Determinants: New Evidence from the MENA Region Countries," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 13(1), pages 144-163, January.
    7. Nikolaos Daskalakis & Eleni Tsota, 2023. "Reintroducing Industry Effects in Capital Structure Determination of SMEs," Business & Entrepreneurship Journal, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 12(2), pages 1-4.
    8. Restrepo, Natalia & Uribe, Jorge M. & Manotas, Diego F., 2020. "Dynamic capital structure under changing market conditions in the oil industry: An empirical investigation," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    9. Chen, Naiwei & Yu, Min-Teh, 2024. "Less is more: Evidence from firms with low cash and debt," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    10. Mohammad Nayeem Abdullah & Emon Kalyan Chowdhury & Rahat Bari Tooheen, 2022. "Determinants of capital structure in banking sector: a Bangladesh perspective," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 2(12), pages 1-19, December.
    11. Antonio D’Amato, 2020. "Capital structure, debt maturity, and financial crisis: empirical evidence from SMEs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 55(4), pages 919-941, December.
    12. Jana Heckenbergerova & Irena Honkova, 2023. "Capital Structure Analysis – Theories and Determinants Validation Based on Evidence from the Czech Republic," E&M Economics and Management, Technical University of Liberec, Faculty of Economics, vol. 26(1), pages 145-164, March.
    13. Helmut Wasserbacher & Martin Spindler, 2024. "Credit Ratings: Heterogeneous Effect on Capital Structure," Papers 2406.18936, arXiv.org.
    14. Elif Acar & Gamze Vural & Emin Hüseyin Çetenak, 2020. "Evidence for Financial Hierarchy Theory in Capital Structure Decisions: Data from BIST Companies," Bogazici Journal, Review of Social, Economic and Administrative Studies, Bogazici University, Department of Economics, vol. 34(1), pages 29-50.
    15. Iván Arribas & Emili Tortosa-Ausina & TingTing Zhu, 2021. "Optimal capital structure, model uncertainty, and European SMEs," Working Papers 2021/11, Economics Department, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón (Spain).
    16. Ahmed Sakr & Amina Bedeir, 2019. "Firm Level Determinants of Capital Structure: Evidence From Egypt," International Journal of Financial Research, International Journal of Financial Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 10(1), pages 68-85, January.
    17. Bipin Sony & Saumitra Bhadurib, 2020. "Information asymmetry and the choice between rights issue and private placement of equity," BASE University Working Papers 01/2020, BASE University, Bengaluru, India.
    18. Hamed Ahmad Almahadin & Yazan Oroud, 2019. "Capital structure-firm value nexus : the moderating role of profitability," Revista Finanzas y Politica Economica, Universidad Católica de Colombia, vol. 11(2), pages 375-386, November.
    19. Norliza Che-Yahya & Nor Akila Mohd Kassim & Nur Afiqah M. Rasit & Nursyazwina Zainal Abidin & Erni Nazirah Shahrel & Norizzanie Wajihah Zulkefli & Nurliyana Zalani & Atirah Abd Latif & Siti Sarah Alya, 2024. "Determinants of Capital Structure from Malaysian Shariah-Compliant Food and Beverages Firms," Information Management and Business Review, AMH International, vol. 16(1), pages 76-93.
    20. ADOGBEJI Gborogen & Ohidoa Toluwa, 2023. "Capital Structure and Agency Costs," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(4), pages 431-438, April.
    21. Natalia Szomko, 2017. "The Importance of Estimation Method Choice for the Analysis of the Determinants of Capital Structure– An Example of Poland," World Journal of Applied Economics, WERI-World Economic Research Institute, vol. 3(1), pages 3-20, June.
    22. Bolaji Tunde Matemilola & Mohamed Azali, 2021. "Interaction Impact of Monetary Policy and Inflation on Corporate Debt in Developing Nations," Capital Markets Review, Malaysian Finance Association, vol. 29(1), pages 1-16.
    23. Dominika Gajdosikova & Katarina Valaskova & George Lazaroiu, 2024. "The Relevance of Sectoral Clustering in Corporate Debt Policy: The Case Study of Slovak Enterprises," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-30, January.
    24. Vlora Prenaj & Iliriana Miftari & Besnik Krasniqi, 2023. "Determinants of the Capital Structure of Non-Listed Companies in Kosovo," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 1, pages 36-50.
    25. Lamia A. Obay, 2018. "The Capital Structure Choice: Evidence of Debt Maturity Substitution By GCC Firms," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 8(11), pages 1298-1312, November.

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